Inside the dim stairway, the echoing footsteps sounded like war drums before a battle, pounding against everyone's eardrums.
The stifling heat surrounding them was the complete opposite of what their information had described, making Lefiya swallow nervously.
"You're walking too loudly, idiot."
Tione scolded her younger sister.
"W-what did you say? Those were obviously Lefiya's footsteps!"
Tiona pouted indignantly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Lefiya apologized repeatedly.
"You three, relax."
Finn gazed toward the light deep within the stairway and quietly reminded them.
A situation completely different from their information.
The 59th Floor, somewhere they had never reached before.
An unknown region no one knew anything about.
Doubt and tension clung to the adventurers' hearts, bringing beads of cold sweat to their foreheads.
With their footsteps still echoing around them, the group finally reached the bottom of the stairs.
"...?!"
Their view suddenly opened up.
What appeared before them was not the frozen landscape described in their intelligence, but a strange scene resembling a jungle.
Towering trees, sprawling vines, vast stretches of grass... Yet amid the green curtain, the most eye-catching sight was the Venenthes they had fought countless times before.
Green walls enclosed the enormous space, while eerie yellow-green flower buds hung overhead.
"This looks a lot like the 24th Pantry. There's probably something similar to the [Viola] here."
Bell calmly voiced his thoughts as he surveyed the surroundings.
Those green curtains were not ordinary vegetation. They were breeding grounds created by monsters, and once someone ventured inside, getting back out would not be easy.
The dense forest severely limited their visibility, but one thing was certain. The [Venenthes] had taken over the 59th Floor, reshaping the entire terrain into a nursery suited to their growth.
From the center of the enormous chamber came unsettling shrieks and the sound of chewing.
Bell said nothing more.
He fastened the blue crystal at his waist and quietly waited for Finn's decision.
Would they shrink back now and allow the Venenthes to continue spreading?
Or would they challenge the unknown and face an enemy far more terrifying than the [Viola] head-on?
This was the moment to decide whether they would fight or retreat.
Having come this far, everyone already knew the answer.
"Keep moving."
Finn gave the order without hesitation.
The moment he spoke, the entire squad rushed toward the center of the 59th Floor.
Bete charged at the front, brutally cutting apart the dense greenery blocking their path.
"Everyone, watch for surprise attacks from the new monsters. Riveria, cast defensive Magic first."
Finn licked his thumb. The stinging sensation had grown even stronger.
Everyone was in good condition, and thanks to Tsubaki, their weapons had been fully maintained. On top of that, this expedition had both Gale and Bell Cranel with them. Their current fighting strength already exceeded that of any previous Loki Familia expedition.
Even so, unease continued to gnaw at Finn.
"Veil Breath."
Riveria finished her chant, enveloping every member of the squad in an emerald-green protection.
Far above them, the ceiling was covered in an unbroken green canopy. Dim phosphorescent light filtered through its gaps, and as they drew closer, the disturbing chewing became increasingly clear.
Then, without warning, the chewing stopped.
In its place, the distinctive shrieks of the Viola echoed through the air.
"Did the enemy notice us?"
Lefiya shuddered.
"Stay alert and keep moving. Gareth, move a few positions farther ahead and be ready to engage at any moment."
Finn immediately issued new instructions.
The enemy still did not attack.
What did this calm before the storm mean?
Finn's ominous feeling grew even stronger.
"..."
Bell followed beside Riveria when a sudden burning sensation flashed across his back.
After a moment of thought, he quietly asked,
"Riveria-san, can you take your defensive Magic another step further?"
"Yes. By using Chant Connect, I can cast third-tier [Barrier Magic], but it requires a long chant, and the barrier itself can't be moved once deployed."
Riveria answered without the slightest hesitation, openly explaining the details of her defensive Magic.
Because they were advancing so quickly, only Lefiya overheard their conversation.
She and Riveria silently watched Bell, waiting for him to reach a conclusion.
"..."
Countless thoughts flashed through Bell's mind in a single instant.
The burning sensation on his back was exactly like what he had felt upon hearing Cassandra's prophecy. There was no doubt that [Luck] was taking effect.
The Goddess's Blade in his hand was not trembling as strongly as it had before the Juggernaut appeared, but there was still a faint vibration, almost as though it were warning him to be careful.
Why had the chewing suddenly stopped?
Why were the Viola shrieking continuously without attacking?
Were they trying to drown out some other sound?
Bell could not grasp the entire situation, so he had no choice but to trust his instincts.
"Riveria-san, please start chanting your barrier Magic immediately. Lefiya-san, you too. Use Concurrent Chanting and prepare barrier Magic right now."
"...?"
Lefiya's eyes widened in shock.
Defensive Magic was not that simple.
Take barriers, for example. Their timing had to be precise. If cast too early, not only would they waste Mind, but the spent chanting time might also leave the caster unable to deploy another barrier in time for the enemy's actual attack.
The risk of Bell's request seemed completely out of proportion to the possible benefit.
Lefiya could not help remembering Finn's words.
Before the expedition began, Finn had told her, "Bell Cranel may make some strange requests along the way. If there isn't enough time to confirm the details with me, I'll leave the decision to you."
The instant Lefiya recalled those words, a gentle and beautiful song reached her ears.
"Dance around spirit of the atmosphere, lord of light..."
Riveria had begun chanting without the slightest hesitation.
Absolute trust.
Pure love.
That was how unshakable the boy's place in the Elf Princess's heart had become.
"...I wish upon the name of Wishe!"
Riveria's song stirred Lefiya's heart.
She had already decided that she would cherish this love. How could she let herself lose to anyone else?!
"Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren. Answer my call and come to the plains..."
Lefiya began weaving her summoning Magic.
"Contract with the guardian of the forest, and envelop us with the song of the land...."
Riveria glanced at the golden-yellow-haired elf beside her, seemingly pleased.
The two elves continued running while singing their respective songs of love.
"What's going on?"
Tiona could not help asking.
Finn considered the situation for a moment but did not stop them.
"Everyone, maintain this pace. Keep moving forward."
Before long, the group broke through the dense forest and reached the center of the Floor.
"?!!!"
But before the adventurers could even take in their surroundings, what greeted them was a raging storm of flames that dyed everything red.